Fires in Sardinia, another day of hell: hectares in smoke and aircraft in action

The hot wind and the arid vegetation have transformed Sardinia, once again, into a war front against fire.

In just one day, there were 14 fires spread across the island, with five blazes so large and threatening that they required the intervention of the regional firefighting fleet's aircraft.

It was a Tuesday of super-work for the teams on the ground, with volunteers, the Forestry and Environmental Protection Corps and helicopters fighting the flames to avoid the worst.

The flames attacked the fields of Funtana Piperedda, in the territory of Irgoli, shortly before noon. The smoke rose quickly and forced a helicopter to take off from Farcana. Forestas teams from Irgoli, Siniscola and Galtellì joined the foresters of Orosei. Only at 13:27 was the fire extinguished, but several hectares of agricultural land went up in smoke.

Another front opened in San Cosimo, near Gonnosfanadiga. Here, the burning areas were mainly pastures and Mediterranean scrub. The coordination, entrusted to the forestry stations of Villacidro and Guspini, mobilized volunteers from Arbus and the local Barracelli. The flames were extinguished only in the early afternoon, thanks also to the air support of a helicopter that took off from Pula.

In the heart of Gerrei, in Bruncu Bulleo, in the territory of Ballao, the fire has devoured about eight hectares of woodland and pasture. The Forestry Corps of San Nicolò Gerrei had to request the urgent intervention of the regional helicopter of Villasalto. The fire, although limited, has closely threatened an area of environmental value.

But it is in Zinnigas Manna, in the countryside of Decimoputzu, that the situation has assumed the most dramatic contours. Here the flames have reached an impressive extension: 180 hectares of pasture and dry vegetation have been engulfed by the fire, still active in the late afternoon.

The emergency required a massive response: two regional helicopters, volunteer teams, an A500 helicopter from the Air Force and even an Army L02 were mobilized. The fight against the flames continues unabated.

Finally, in Pozzomaggiore, another large fire is threatening pastures, crops and woods, over an area of 80 hectares. The extinguishing operations were directed by the local Forestry Station, with the intervention of two helicopters - from Anela and Alà dei Sardi - and the assistance of the Canadair from Olbia, requested given the size and intensity of the front.

(Unioneonline/Fr.Me.)